Orlando Sentinel: NASA has become a transition problem for Obama

rhombus

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Wed Dec-10-08 10:36 PM
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Orlando Sentinel: NASA has become a transition problem for Obama

CAPE CANAVERAL � NASA administrator Mike Griffin is not cooperating with President-elect Barack Obama�s transition team, is obstructing its efforts to get information and has told its leader that she is �not qualified� to head the effort, the Orlando Sentinel has learned.

In a heated 40-minute conversation last week with Lori Garver, a former NASA associate administrator who heads the space transition team, a red-faced Griffin demanded to speak directly to Obama, according to witnesses.

In addition, Griffin is scripting NASA employees and civilian contractors on what they can tell the transition team and has warned aerospace executives not to criticize the agency�s moon program, sources said.

snip

When team members arrived three weeks ago, they asked the agency, among other things, to quantify how much could be saved by canceling Ares I. Though they also asked what it would take to accelerate the program, the fact that the team could even consider scrapping the program was enough to spur Griffin and his supporters into action

According to industry officials, Griffin started calling heads of companies working for NASA, demanding that they either tell the Obama team that they support Constellation or refrain from talking about alternatives.

The companies, worried that Griffin may remain and somehow punish them if they ignore his wishes, have by and large complied.

One consultant said that when Garver invited �several� mid-level aerospace executives to speak to the team, their bosses told them not to go and warned that anything said had to be cleared first with NASA because Griffin had demanded it.

Documents and e-mails obtained by the Sentinel confirm NASA�s efforts to coordinate what�s said.

snip

Tensions were on public display last week at the NASA library, as overheard by guests at a book party.

According to people who were present, Logsdon, a space historian, told a group of about 50 people he had just learned that President John F. Kennedy�s transition team had completely ignored NASA.

Griffin responded, in a loud voice, �I wish the Obama team would come and talk to me.�

Alan Ladwig, a transition team member who was at the party with Garver, shouted out: �Well, we�re here now, Mike.�

Soon after, Garver and Griffin engaged in what witnesses said was an animated conversation. Some overheard parts of it.

�Mike, I don�t understand what the problem is. We are just trying to look under the hood,� Garver said.

�If you are looking under the hood, then you are calling me a liar,� Griffin replied. �Because it means you don�t trust what I say is under the hood.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_space_thewritestuff/2008/12/nasa-has-become.html

Seems some Bush appointees are refusing to cooperate with Obama's transition team. Jan. 20 can't come fast enough.

:-( :eyes: :eyes: :-(